The  President  of  the  United  States  takes  pleasure  in  presenting  the SILVER STAR MEDAL to

for service as set forth in the following

                 CITATION:

                                 "For conspicuous gallantry  and intrepidity  in action while serving  as  a  Pilot  with   Marine  Medium  Helicopter  Squadron  364,  Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen,  First Marine Aircraft Wing  in connection with  combat operations against the enemy in the  Republic of Vietnam.  Late on  the night of 2  January  1069, First  Lieutenant  Quinlan  launched  as  Aircraft  Commander aboard a CH-46 transport helicopter assigned the emergency medical evacuation of a  seriously wounded Marine from a unit heavily engaged with a  hostile force in  Quang  Nam  Province.  Undaunted  by  adverse  weather  and total darkness which   increased   the  difficulty  of   identifying  the  landing  zone,  located   in hazardous  terrain,  he  completely  disregarded  his  own safety  as he  fearlessly maneuvered his aircraft, with all lights extinguished, in an approach to the land- ing  zone  with only  the dim  light of a  flashlight on the ground  to  guide  him. Aborting   his  landing  attempt   when  the  increased  intensity  of    enemy  fire endangered  his  CH-46,  he  then  coordinated   his  second  approach  with  the suppressive  fire of supporting gunships, but  was again forced to  wave off when he  encountered an  extremely heavy  volume of hostile  machine gun  and  auto- matic weapons fire which struck his aircraft.  Rapidly assessing  the damage and realizing  the  urgency  of  extracting  the injured  Marine  whose  condition  was deteriorating,  First Lieutenant Quinlan resolutely decided to begin a third land- ing attempt in the fire-swept area.  Skillfully coordinating  his approach with the fire of his escorting gunships, and  using the tracer rounds of  the ground unit to mark  the landing  zone, he  fearlessly  maneuvered  to a  landing.  Ignoring  the enemy  rounds impacting near his helicopter, he  boldly remained in  his danger- ously exposed position until the wounded man was embarked and then departed the  hazardous  area.   By  his  courage,  superior  airmanship  and   unwavering devotion to duty  in the face of  great personal danger, First  Lieutenant Quinlan was instrumental in saving the life of a Marine and upheld  the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service."